1974 Los Angeles International Airport bombing
The 1974 Los Angeles International Airport bombing occurred on August 6, 1974, in the overseas passenger terminal lobby of Pan American World Airways at the Los Angeles International Airport. The attack killed three people and injured 36 others.[1]
| 1974 Los Angeles International Airport Bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Date | August 6, 1974 |
| Target | Los Angeles International Airport |
Attack type | Bombing |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Injured | 36 |
| Perpetrators | Muharem Kurbegovic |
The attack was perpetrated by 37-year-old Yugoslavian immigrant Muharem Kurbegovic, who was arrested two weeks after the bombing. Kurbegovic was eventually found guilty of first-degree murder for committing the bombing and an additional attack.[2] He was sentenced to life in prison.[3]
Attack
The bomb exploded at 8:10 AM inside a locker. There were about 50 people in the airport lobby at the time of the explosion. The terminal was evacuated after the blast. The explosion ripped through 100 feet (30 m) of the lobby.[4]
Three people died as a result of the attack, with two victims dying at the scene and an additional victim dying later at the hospital. Thirty-six people were injured in the attack, including a priest who lost a leg.[5]
Kurbegovic was nicknamed "The Alphabet Bomber" because of his alleged plan to attack places in an order that would make an anagram of Aliens of America. He later disputed this and stated that his objective was to "undermine and erode the foundation of Western Civilization, which is the Holy Bible".[5]
In August 1987, Kurbegovic was denied parole.[5]
References
- Tucker, Jonathan B., ed. (2000). Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons. MIT Press. p. 77. ISBN 9780262700719. LCCN 41-24478. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- "Alphabet Bomber guilty of murder". Los Angeles Times. October 16, 2006.
- "Bomber gets life in prison". United Press International. November 25, 1980.
- "Airport Blast Kills 2". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. August 7, 1974.
- "1st Parole Bid Denied for 'Alphabet Bomber'". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 1987.